Hydrangea plant named ‘Little Echo’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Hydrangea macrophylla  plant named, ‘Little Echo’, that is characterized by its well branched, compact plant habit, its flexible young stems that mature into strong stems that remain upright, its reblooming flowering habit, blooming on both old and new wood, its large mophead type inflorescences that are made up of a large number of individual sterile flowers, its inflorescences that are pastel pink to medium blue in color depending on soil pH, and its small seedpods that produce numerous, fine, dust-like seeds.

Botanical classification: Hydrangea macrophylla.

Varietal denomination: ‘Little Echo’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofHydrangea macrophylla and will be referred to hereafter by its cultivarname, ‘Little Echo’. ‘Little Echo’ represents a new bigleaf hydrangea, adeciduous shrub grown for landscape use and for use as a potted plant inthe lightly shaded landscape.

‘Little Echo’ was derived from an ongoing controlled breeding programconducted by the Inventor in Marietta, Ga. The objectives of thebreeding program are to develop new cultivars of Hydrangea that exhibitreblooming flowering habits and unique foliage colors.

The Inventor made a cross in summer of 2010 between Hydrangeamacrophylla ‘Lemon Daddy’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 17,660) as the femaleparent and Hydrangea macrophylla ‘Shikizaki’ (not patented) as the maleparent. ‘Little Echo’ was selected as a single unique plant from theresulting seedlings in May of 2012.

Asexual propagation of the new cultivar was first accomplished by stemcuttings in Alpharetta, Ga. in September of 2011 by the Inventor.Asexual propagation by stem cuttings has determined that thecharacteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reproduced trueto type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following traits have been repeatedly observed represent thecharacteristics of the new cultivar. These attributes in combinationdistinguish ‘Little Echo’ as a unique cultivar of Hydrangea macrophylla.

-   -   1. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits a well-branched, compact plant habit.    -   2. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits flexible young stems arching under the        weight of inflorescences that mature into strong stems that        remain upright.    -   3. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits a reblooming flowering habit, blooming        on both old and new wood.    -   4. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits large mophead type inflorescences that        are made up of a larger number of individual sterile flowers        when compared to other mophead type Hydrangea cultivars.    -   5. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits inflorescences that are pastel pink to        medium blue in color depending on soil pH and aluminum        concentration.    -   6. ‘Little Echo’ exhibits small seedpods that produce numerous,        fine, dust-like seeds.        The female parent of ‘Little Echo, ‘Lemon Daddy’ differs from        ‘Little Echo’ in having foliage that is yellow in color, in        having stems and leaves that are thicker in substance, in having        fewer sterile flowers that are larger in size, and in having a        single blooming habit that only blooms on old wood. The male        parent of ‘Little Echo’, ‘Shikizaki’, is similar to ‘Little        Echo’ in having a reblooming flowering habit. ‘Shikizaki’        differs from ‘Little Echo’ in having inflorescences that are        darker in color, in having foliage that is larger in size, and        in being more sensitive to changes in pH and aluminum        concentration. ‘Little Echo’ can be most closely compared to the        Hydrangea macrophylla cultivars ‘Bailmer’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No.        15,298) and ‘Wyatt LeFever’ (not patented). ‘Bailmer’ is similar        to ‘Little Echo’ in having similarly sized inflorescences and in        having a reblooming mophead plant habit. ‘Bailmer’ differs from        ‘Little Echo’ in having foliage that is larger in size, in        having flower color that is more sensitive to changes in pH and        aluminum concentration, in have fewer sterile flowers that are        larger in size, in having more fertile flowers, and in having a        weaker tendency to rebloom. ‘Wyatt LeFever’ is similar to        ‘Little Echo’ in having a reblooming mophead plant habit. ‘Wyatt        LeFever’ differs from ‘Little Echo’ in having foliage that is        larger in size, in having flower color that is more sensitive to        changes in pH and aluminum concentration, in have fewer sterile        flowers that are larger in size, in having a weaker tendency to        rebloom, and in having inflorescences that are smaller, rounder,        and darker in color.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearanceand distinct characteristics of the new Hydrangea.

The photographs of FIG. 1 and FIG. 3 were taken of three year-old plantsof ‘Little Echo’ as grown in a greenhouse in five-gallon containers inAtlanta, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 3 was taken of a three year-old plant of ‘LittleEcho’ as grown outdoors in acidic soil, in Gainesville, Ga.

The photograph in FIG. 1 provides a side view of the flowering habit ofa plant of ‘Little Echo’ as grown in alkaline soil.

The photograph in FIG. 2 provides a top view of a plant of ‘Little Echo’in bloom as grown in acidic soil, with aged bloom at bottom.

The photograph in FIG. 3 provides a close-up comparison view ofinflorescences of ‘Little Echo’ as grown on acidic soil (left) andalkaline soil (right).

The colors in the photographs are as close as possible with the digitalphotography and printing techniques utilized and the color codes in thedetailed botanical description accurately describe the new Hydrangea.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of three year-old plants of thenew cultivar as grown in five-gallon containers under greenhouseconditions in Atlanta, Ga. Phenotypic differences may be observed withvariations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions. Thecolor determination is in accordance with The 2007 R.H.S. Colour Chartof The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England, except wheregeneral color terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   General description:    -   -   Blooming period.—Beginning in late spring (late May to early            June) and continuing to set buds and open flowers with            colorful blooms until hard frost, in Georgia.        -   Plant type.—Deciduous shrub, bigleaf hydrangea, Hortensia            type.        -   Plant habit.—Upright, open mound, compact.        -   Height and spread.—An average of 1.2 m in height and 1.4 m            in width after three years of growth.        -   Cold hardiness.—At least to U.S.D.A. Zone 5b.        -   Diseases and pests.—Moderate resistance to leaf spot            (Cercospora hydrangeae) has been observed, no susceptibility            to insect problems has been observed.        -   Root description.—Fine.        -   Propagation.—Softwood stem cuttings.        -   Growth rate and vigor.—Vigorous with new shoot production.        -   Root development.—Roots initiate in 14-21 days and fully            develop in a 5×7 cm container in six weeks.-   Stem description:    -   -   Stem shape.—Round, solid.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—New growth; 144D with lenticels 183A, mature            wood; a blend of 165A and 199D.        -   Stem size.—An average of 40 cm in length (to inflorescence            base) and 5 mm in width.        -   Stem surface.—New growth; glabrous, dull, densely covered            with lenticels; about 32 per cm, about 3 mm in length and            <0.5 mm in width, mature; smooth bark can split and peel.        -   Branching.—Basal branching with over 35 branches per plant,            sublateral branching determined by pinching; 2 stems develop            per pinched node.-   Foliage description:    -   -   Leaf shape.—Elliptic.        -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Leaf division.—Simple.        -   Leaf number.—An average of 14 (7 pairs) per lateral branch            40 cm in length.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acuminate to slightly caudate.        -   Leaf margins.—Serrated, an average of 18 per side on a leaf            8 cm in length.        -   Leaf venation.—Pinnate, recessed on upper surface and raised            on lower surface, color 145B on upper surface and 145D on            lower surface.        -   Leaf size.—An average of 10 cm in length and 5 cm in width            when mature.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Internode length.—An average of 5 cm.        -   Leaf surface.—Glabrous and dull, finely puberulent on veins.        -   Leaf color.—Upper surface; 138A, lower surface; color 138B            to 138C, leaf buds; 138C.        -   Petioles.—An average of 2.5 cm in length and 2.5 mm in            width, color; 144C flushed with 181D towards base, glabrous            surface.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Inflorescence type.—Terminal compound globose corymb            primarily comprised of rotate shaped sterile flowers with            few fertile flowers.        -   Lastingness of inflorescence.—Persistent, but fresh color is            retained for about 3 to 4 weeks.        -   Inflorescence number.—One per lateral or sublateral stem if            pinched.        -   Inflorescence size.—An average of 11 cm in depth and 20 cm            in diameter.        -   Flower number.—An average of 300 sterile flowers and 2            fertile flowers per corymb.        -   Flower fragrance.—None.        -   Flower aspect.—Upright at stem terminus.        -   Flower size.—Sterile flowers; an average of 2 cm in diameter            and 3 mm in depth, fertile flowers; an average of 4 mm in            diameter and 1.5 mm in depth.        -   Flower buds.—Sterile flowers; an average of 4 mm in length            and 3 mm in diameter prior to opening, globose to ovate in            shape, 157C in color prior to opening, fertile flowers; an            average of 1 mm in length and 2.5 mm in diameter, orbicular            in shape, 144B in color.        -   Peduncles.—For each complex corymb in inflorescence; an            average of 8 mm in length and 1 mm in width, 149D in color,            glabrous surface, secondary and tertiary corymbs; an average            of 1.5 cm in length and 1 mm in width, 149D in color,            glabrous surface, peduncle leaves; an average of 3 per            inflorescence, up to 2 cm in length and 1.5 cm in width,            elliptic in shape, same coloration and surface as stem            leaves.        -   Pedicels.—Sterile flowers; an average of 3 cm in length and            1 mm in width, held at an average angle of 20° to 45° to            vertical, 157D in color, fertile flowers; an average of 8 mm            in length and <1 mm in width, NN155A in color, glabrous            surface on all flowers.        -   Petals.—(Grown under acidic conditions): sterile flowers;            curled into eye zone (occasionally open when reproduction            organs are present), N88A in color, an average of 1 mm in            diameter and depth, fertile (flowers; 5, rotate in            arrangement, oval to elliptic in shape, entire margin, acute            apex, cuneate base, an average of 1.5 mm in length and 2 mm            in width, upper and lower surface is glabrous and dull,            color; of upper and lower surface a blend of N88A to N88C            and 95B to 95D.        -   Sepals.—Sterile flowers; an average of 4, rotate in            arrangement, broadly ovate in shape, entire margin, broadly            acute apex, cuneate base, an average of 7 mm in length and 6            mm in width, upper and lower surfaces are glabrous and dull,            color; upper and lower surfaces when opening under all            conditions 144D, upper and lower surfaces when fully open            and grown under acidic conditions; a blend of 91B to 91D,            97A to 97B and 100C to 100D, upper and lower surfaces when            fully open and grown under alkaline conditions; 75B to 75D,            with sun exposure color fades to a mix of 143D and 178B on            the upper surface and a mix of 178B and 182D on the lower            surface, fertile flowers; 5, ovate in shape, entire margins,            acute apex, cuneate base, an average of 0.75 mm in length            and 0.5 mm in width, upper and lower surfaces glabrous and            smooth, color 144B.-   Reproductive organs: (Fertile flowers and occasionally present in    sterile flowers, grown under acidic conditions).    -   -   Stamens.—An average of 3, anthers; deltoid in shape,            basifixed, minute in size, and 99B to 99C in color,            filament; an average of 1 mm in length and 99D in color,            pollen is low in abundance and 162D in color.        -   Pistils.—1, stigma is minute in size and 99B in color, style            is an average of 1 mm in length and 99D in color, ovary is            minute in size and 99D in color.-   Fruit and seed: Seed pods are <2 mm in height and 1 mm in diameter,    numerous dust-like seeds (too small to determine a color reading).

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Hydrangea plant named‘Little Echo’ substantially as herein illustrated and described.